Very LATE Camping Post

Since I never blogged about our fun camping trip with our best friends and Matt's parents last year, I thought I would blog about it with such beautiful weather just right around the corner.

Camping Trip August 2011.

We went camping with Matt's parents and our best friends, David and Kristin, and their three kids, Gracie, Katie, and Parker.

We went to a camping spot that Matt and I had been a couple years before. We camped near a slow flowing river near Pineview Reservoir. We camped for two nights.

First Day - Matt and David took Gracie and Katie down the river. Pops drove them up the river and we waited to take pictures of them in the river.

Getting ready to go down the river

David and Katie took a small test run down the river

Matt and Gracie took a small test run down the river

Trying to get out of the river after the small test run

Matt and Gracie. Check out her facial expression.

Me and Parker waiting for the boys and little girls
to come down after a longer river trip

Matt and Gracie

David and Katie

After playing in the river, we eat dinner and then had some-mores. The girls loved them especially because they got to eat the EXTRA EXTRA large marshmallows.

Kristin and her kids: Gracie, Parker, and Katie.
Check out Katie and Gracie showing off their stick hands.

Katie and her marshmallow

Gracie biting into her marshmallow

The 2nd day, we decided to go to the beach at Pineview. The water was pretty high last year, so the beach was shorter. This was great, because we didn't have carry everything so far.

We played in the water and on the beach. Everyone enjoyed themselves.

David trying to teach Gracie to swim.

Me and Katie out for a little raft ride.

Pops decided to take the raft out.
We decided to have a chat with him. 

Pow-wow in the water. 

Parker decided he would try and eat dirt.

Family picture on the beach.

Ma and Pa watching us and enjoying the day.

Parker playing and eating dirt.

Parker and the dirt.

Matt burying David in the sand while Kristin watched.

Matt sculpting David's sand body.

Matt and I continuing to shape David's sand body.

David lying in the sand

Gracie and Katie with their Dad.

Me and my new hat

After we were finished at the beach, we went back to the camp ground. Parker brought back so much sand, that we had to give him a bath.

Parker clean and free from sand

Parker smiling for the camera.

Before we packed up camp, Matt and I decided to ride down the river. All I can say is it was cold for my hands, but extremely fun.

Matt enjoying his ride down the river. 

I ran into a tree down the river and got something in my eye.
So I rode the river half blind, but still had fun. 

Life is so much fun when we get to enjoy camping trips during the summer. 
Can't wait to go this summer!

My Young Women

I have been the Young Women's President in my ward now for over a year and a half. I have learned a lot from them during this time. They are courageous young women in a crazy world that teaches them they aren't good enough or worth anything unless they are "perfect".

Who gets to define what "perfect" is in our world today?

• Height
• Hair color
• Body type
• Talents/Hobbies

My Young Women are perfect in THEIR own way.

• Some are ballerinas, artists, and musicians. 
• Some like science, math, dance, and recess. 
• Some enjoy being the oldest, youngest, or somewhere in the middle.  

All I know is I wish they can always know how special and perfect they are in their OWN way. 

It is amazing how much they teach me and I how much I worry about them.

Friday Night fun...taxes, movie, and dinner

Friday Night...I sat down with Matt's mom to do our taxes, so much fun right. Not the funnest, but after that we had fun with Matt's parents

Matt had been wanting to see the Ghost Rider movie for the past couple of weeks, so after taxes we planned to go to the movies. Since it was an early movie, we invited Matt's parents to go with us. (Pops tends to fall asleep if the move is later). 

We drove into a parking spot and found our name on the adjacent car. I thought it was funny, so I took a picture. 

We ended up being a little late to the movie, but with previews we would have been right on time. We bought our tickets and walked into the theater and no movie was playing. Why? No one in the theater. We had to tell the manager that no movie was playing, so we ended up having a private screen. It was fun. I took a picture with my phone. 

After the movie, we went to dinner and Iceberg. Lets just say that mini shakes are MINI there. One shake is big enough for two people, unless of course you are POPS and like ice cream. 

Matt and I enjoy hanging out with his parents and spending quality time with them. 

Don't forget...we are still trying to ADOPT. Help us get the word out!

We are still trying to find our little one. Please keep us in mind and let everyone you know.
You never know...you could be our missing link to our future baby.
We have been waiting for over 3 years and are hoping this year will be OUR year.

Thank you for your support and love!

Lydia...The newest Niece

My sister, Chelsey, had our newest niece, Lydia, in December, but they live in Washington, so we only recently got to see her.

She is already getting so big (two months) old. We have sorely missed Arlee growing up over the last 7 months and now we will miss watching Lydia grow up. It is definitely sad when family has to move far away. We have 5 nieces and nephews in my family and only 1 lives here. The numbers are definitely not in our favor that is for sure.

Here are some of the fun moments caught on camera:

First time seeing and holding Lydia

Lydia fell asleep on me and I had to get a picture.
Snuggling...one of the best things to do with a baby!

Matt's first time seeing Lydia.

Lydia making faces at Matt!

Matt and Lydia

Us and Lydia

Last time seeing Lydia. She was the happiest baby that night.
You can tell because she is smiling. CUTE!


Got 3 cute videos too!

Lydia likes to smile!

Baby Cries are so CUTE! 

I got lots of pictures of Lydia and only two of Arlee. She was so busy playing and enjoying her cousin, Kasiah, that she didn't really care about the adults. Who can blame here either!

I did get to eat ice cream with her the night she arrived. We eat it at 10:00pm. The fun of being an aunt!

While Chelsey was here, we decided to go horse back riding at the place I have been learning about horses to be able to volunteer in the summer. It ended up being me, Chelsey, Hans (Chelsey's husband), and my two brothers, Jake and Dane.

It was really interesting. We started out in the arena to make sure everyone knew how to ride safely and make sure everyone was situated with their horses. It was alot of fun! Can't wait to go this summer when it is warmer.

Chelsey

Dane

Jake in his cowboy hat! Cutest little brother ever!

All of us at the end of the ride! Me, Dane, Chelsey, Jake, and Hans.